Collingwood park upgrade: Crazy reason why two City of Yarra Greens councillors voted against improvements to Melbourne’s ‘saddest’ playground

Two Greens councilors have sparked outrage in the community after rejecting a pledge to back more play equipment for a playground dubbed ‘Melbourne’s saddest’ because it would mean the space would have less grass.

Despite a last-minute change of heart from Mayor Edward Crossland and former Mayor Sophie Wade, Yarra City Council voted 5-2 to allocate $250,000 for playground equipment at Cambridge Street park in inner-city Melbourne.

The Collingwood Reserve grabbed national headlines when it reopened last November following a $2 million ‘upgrade’.

Local parents were stunned that although the lawn had been doubled in size, there was three minimalist metal play equipment.

Gone was the previous jungle gym with a slippery slide, two swings and a spring swing shaded by trees.

They were replaced with a single nest swing, balance beam and climbing frame.

A slide, four-way seesaw, mini trampoline and other play equipment still have to be installed.

A petition calling on the council to reverse the changes and reinstate the old playground quickly collected more than 600 signatures.

Local mother Brielle Pope, who has a two-year-old daughter, said she was “absolutely appalled” that the Greens broke their promise to support the return of the playground equipment.

“The Greens are absolutely not to be trusted,” Ms Pope wrote on Facebook.

“I am shocked that Sophie, who is standing in Collingwood at the upcoming election, has effectively sealed her fate by losing the votes of families living in this ward.

‘It’s disgusting to put 7 per cent of the grass space for children, especially because of their so-called inclusive values.’

Despite promising to support the reintroduction of more playground equipment, Yarra Mayor Edward Crossland voted against it

Yarra City Greens councilor and former mayor Sophie Wade also voted against the reintroduction of playground equipment

Yarra Residents Collective spokesperson Adam Promnitz slammed the council over the debacle.

“This is an expensive blunder that has caused national embarrassment to the council,” he said Herald Sun.

‘Yarra had to sheepishly admit that things went terribly wrong.’

In November, a council spokesperson defended the project, claiming that during the consultation a majority of locals expressed a wish for open green space, which they achieved.

“In a suburb like Collingwood, which has only 0.3 per cent open space, expanding the size of the park was a key driver for the park’s design,” the spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.

“The council has responded to the needs of the community by building a new park that is twice the original size.

“Only five of the 171 people who responded requested traditional playground equipment.”

Parents are calling for the reintroduction of play equipment in Melbourne’s Cambridge St inner park. Pictured is the park before the upgrade

Ms Pope said the original consultation only offered four “flawed” options and did not properly gauge the views of local people.

“It wasn’t presented in a way that allowed people to provide feedback,” she said.

‘We were not given the opportunity to propose alternatives.’

She said the city should have admitted it “was a mess” and immediately added more equipment.

“I can assure you the money could have been better spent on equipment,” she said.

The council has also overseen two further park upgrades in Collingwood and Richmond.